I'd just lost my FZ1 with sweet custom paint job due to an accident with a car that pulled out in front of me. Seller for the 04 was out on a trip on his goldwing and I was waiting for him to return so I could tell him I wanted it when a guy on the FZ1 board sent me a shot of his beautiful 2003 yellow and black FZ1. I'm a sucker for yellow and black and this bike was pristine, and it was like looking at porn. I made the deal, flew to KC and rode it home to Dallas.

Plans change, things change and without local mountains and twisties, I find I'm doing more and more stuff that just doesn't suit the old sportbike so much anymore. I started thinking back to the FJR and then got a chance to chase one through the Mountains of Arkansas and saw that the FJR isn't just a highway mile gobbler, it is a twisty pavement shredder as well. Now the wheels are really turning.

So, now's the time, I started hunting here, craigslist and cycletrader. Looking everywhere. I managed to pop in here and cruppelt was selling his. I posted up three hours after he posted the ad and PM'd him that I wanted it. Holy crap was that bike a beauty. Add on to that a much more interesting fly n buy opportunity from Oregon to DFW than my last one from KC. I had it all planned out, beat feet south and get out of the cold and wet and hit California, then down the PCH, visit friend in LA. Hop over to Vegas and stay the night ($40 at the Luxor! Way better than a Motel 6) and then head out and catch a glimpse of the local dam and canyon before heading south to Phoenix to crash with a friend. Then finish it off with a SS1000 home from there.

Sigh...adventure was not meant to be. cjskach spoke to cruppelt in the process and was first in line. Dang! He got a darn good bike, congrats to him, I spent several days jealous as heck.

Then a local craigslist ad resurfaced and I gave it a whirl. Went and looked at the bike, haggled a little bit (I suck at this by the way if you are trying to sell me something) and struck a deal. One snafu with the bank financing (check was written to the incorrect business entity at the dealership) and I picked her up today. Got me a 2007 FJR1300AE.

I've been consuming every thread I can find on it, so I've got my list. Let's see....remove slack from throttle cable, throttle spring unwind, G2, PCIII and a clutch soak. That should get me going. Riding it home I felt like a brand new motorcyclist trying to ride this thing, but already I can feel my right wrist being retrained and it's getting better.

To answer a couple of questions...

1. Why a Gen II? - I'd had my heart set on an 05 for a long while. I'm one of those bizarre folks who find it to be one of the best blues out there. I have to say though, seeing an 06 in person tells you that pictures don't do that color justice. In the sunlight that's a fantastic blue. However, in Texas I can use all the heat protection I can get, I wanted to never have to wish for electricity (like I do on my FZ1) and absolutely wanted ABS this time around. It seems Gen I ABS bikes are very few and far between out there and the sellers are proud of the fact it has ABS. All things pointed to a Gen II for me, and this was a decision I agonized over.

2. Why an AE? - Why not? I figured what the heck, and after reading and reading and really finding a very select few who got one and wished they hadn't and most being very happy I figured I'd give it a whirl. I ride to work as much as I can which means I can take the HOV lanes. The HOV lanes in certain parts of Dallas suck in that there's nothing separating them from the main lanes except a double white line and some plastic picket fence things. This means any accident on the left side of the highway usually ends up in the HOV lane with it closed. More often than not, the accident comes from some idiot leaving the stopped main lanes and jumping into the fast moving HOV lanes. Either way, it means I'm sitting in stop and go traffic with a cramp in my left hand from working the clutch. I'm hoping this will make that experience less hateful. In addition, it's funny how street guys tend to be so pure and against the auto clutch while the Recluse auto clutch sells like hotcakes in the dirt world. I figure if it works there, then I'll like it here.

Anyway, that's about it. Just for NMRoadRunner who I don't think has ever seen a picture of an 07 AE before....

Dennis - The Long Distance Rider IBA #249162012 Yamaha Super TenereAs a matter of fact, yes, I have been everywhere...“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.” -- Helen Keller

Walked away Is it really crashing if you don't fall down?--I wouldn't change a fucking thing; I've lived hard, played hard, and I ain't done yet. I've paid some severe penalties along the way, but the rewards have been so much greater; even if for just have participating in the game of life with utmost abandon. It's not who rides the furthest in a day, but rather in a lifetime. CBA member #1, IBA #31845 and very proud of both.

Dennis - The Long Distance Rider IBA #249162012 Yamaha Super TenereAs a matter of fact, yes, I have been everywhere...“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.” -- Helen Keller

Oh yea, forgot to mention. One of the draws on this particular motorcycle is the previous owner is the OCD type of person I sometimes wish I was. Well, maybe more than I'd like to be. He had every single piece of physical paper ever remotely attached to the bike. In addition to the recall work orders, maintenance records the guy even had all receipts for the annual Texas state inspection, original temp tag, and even the paperwork from when he bought the bike and put $500 down on a cruiser but changed his mind (wisely) to the FJR and they modified his purchase records. I'm going to do my best to try to be more like him.